Thousands evacuated in Apex as fire sends chemical cloud across town

APEX -- Flames shot 200 feet high and a cloud of chlorine gas formed over this western Wake County town after a series of late-night explosions at a hazardous waste plant, forcing more than 15,000 people to evacuate.

Because of the emergency, all schools in Apex are closed today. Apex Elementary, Apex Middle, Lufkin Middle, Apex High, Baucom Elementary, Olive Chapel Elementary and Turner Creek Elementary schools will be closed for students and staff.

In addition, traffic in the Apex area could disrupt bus transportation patterns in western and southwestern Wake County this morning. In those areas, school buses probably will be running behind schedule.

The Wake County Public School System announced that all bus routes originating in Apex are canceled for today.

Town Manager Bruce Radford urged everyone to stay away from downtown Apex.

“If they choose to come, go ahead and write their names on their foreheads and the names of their next of kin,” he said.

The fire raged out of control past 3 a.m., and firefighters could not get closer than 100 yards to it. They urged shut-in residents to close their windows and run from the toxic smoke.

At least seven people went to area hospitals, including Western Wake Medical Center and Rex Hospital, with severe respiratory problems.

Russell McClelland’s daughter in Apex went to Western Wake after she started choking. “She could barely talk,” McClelland said.

The Wake County Emergency Operations Center has been activated, the county announced at 3:35 a.m. today. Wake and Apex fire, rescue and hazard personnel are coordinating emergency response efforts.

The county said evacuation was being recommended within the area bounded by U.S. 1, N.C. 55 and U.S. 64 in Apex and unincorporated areas. Otherwise, residents were advised to stay indoors, keep their windows closed and turn off air conditioning or other air exchange systems.

Shelters were opened at Olive Chapel Elementary at 1751 Olive Chapel Road and Turner Creek Elementary at 6801 Turner Creek Road. More than 200 people were at Olive Chapel Elementary, and others were being encouraged to transport themselves to the shelters.

Those requiring assistance may call the Wake County Emergency Operations Center at 856-7044.

The blaze at Environmental Quality Co. on Investment Boulevard started shortly before 10 p.m. Past midnight, people were still walking under a black plume that had covered the downtown Apex area — too close to send in police to warn them, Radford said.

“If you see the smoke, run away from it,” Radford said.

Wake County has declared a state of emergency.

Radford said he had “absolutely no idea” what triggered the fires. He said firefighters in special hazardous material suits would scale 90-foot ladders at daybreak today to get a clearer picture. Fire officials considered it safer to let the chemical fire burn rather than try to extinguish it with water or foam.

Police and other emergency officials went door to door warning residents.

About 100 homes in the Briarcliff neighborhood, one of the town’s oldest, near Apex Middle School, were evacuated to the Apex Community Center next to the town hall on Hunter Street.

Officials activated the “reverse 911” system, calling everyone near the fire to alert them.

Early this morning, the Waterford Green subdivision about 2 miles east of downtown joined several other Apex neighborhoods that were evacuated, as were a Holiday Inn Express off N.C. 55 and Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center on South Hughes Street.

Area hotel rooms were filling fast, Radford said early this morning. He added that the question of whether any other areas would have to be evacuated would be determined in part by the weather, in particular the direction of the wind. Today’s forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain, cloudy skies with a high of about 66 degrees and north winds of 6 to 15 mph.